Toothbrush



Dec. 1, 1942. A. F. TABoRsKl 2,303,667

TOOTHBRUSH Filed Aug. 9, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 2 www Paiemed'bec. 1, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOOTHBRUSH Alfred F. Taborski, Bradford,Pa.

Application August 9, 1940, serial No. 352,018

3 Claims. (Cl. 15-128) This invention relates to an improved tooth brush and seeks, among other objects, to provide a brush of this character having a head and a handle formed with channels for receiving water and dentifrice to be discharged between tufts' of bristles on the `head of .the brush during a the dentifrice, through openings in the head of the brush, to the bases of the bristle tufts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tooth brush which, in one embodiment, is

formed with a exible tube mounted on the handle thereof substantially intermediate the length of said handle for supplying dentifrice to the bases of the bristle tufts for a tooth cleaning operation.

As a still furtherobject, the invention seeks to provide a tooth brush whereinl either or both of the channels may be connected with a source of water for the purpose of cleaning said channels and removing any obstructions therein.

And a still further object of the invention is to provide, in a slightly modified embodiment, a tooth brush having bristle tufts which are removably mounted in the handle so that, when the bristles of said tufts become too soft for effective use, said bristle tufts may be removed and new ones substituted therefor without the need of destroying the handle. Other objects of .the invention not particularly mentioned hereinbefore will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings: V l Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved tooth brush, A

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view .on the line 2 2 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows, y

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view showing a modified form of tooth brushy `Figure 4 is a detail sectional view showing another modified construction,

Y Figure 5 is a side elevation, partly shown in 55 Y section, of a slightly modifled embodiment of my invention,

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 6 6 of Figure 5, and l Figure 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view, on an enlarged scale, on the line 1-1 of Figure 6.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figures 1 and 2 thereof, the numeral I indicates the body of my improved tooth brush.

10 The body includes a substantially at handle 2 and an enlarged head l.

Projecting downwardly from the head 3 is a group of bristle tufts l which are set in substantially funnelshaped mountings 5 which surround discharge openings 6 formed in the head.

By referring to Figure 2, it will be seenthat I provide parallel channels 1 and 8 which. extend/throughout the length of the body I. That isto say, said channels extend throughout the length of the handle and throughout the major portion of the length of the head 3. The channels are closed at their corresponding forward ends by a stop wall 9. A partition i0 extends throughout the length of the body and effectually prevents communication between the channels 1 and 8. The channels 1 and 8 communicate with the openings 6 and, in this connection, it is desired `to call attention to the fact that there are but two of the openings 6 communicating with' the channel 1, these two openings being located near vthe forward end of said channel and being in spaced relation with respect to each other. For the sake'of convenience, these two openings will be designated by the numeral 6.

The openings 6' are for the purpose of dis- 40 tua-lly cleanse the teeth.

charging dentifrice from the channel l to now or pass about the bases of the bristle tufts 4. During a tooth cleaning operation, the dentifrice will be caused to come in contact with and effec- The openings communicating with the channel 8 are designated by the numeral Bb. These openings are arranged along the entire length of the head in longitudinally spaced relation and are for the purpose of leading water or other liquid to the bases of the bristle tufts. vThe funnel-shaped mountings 5 will eifectually direct the liquid or dentifrice to the bases of the bristle tufts 4. v

Fitted into the channels 1 and end of the handle 2, are couplings Il and I2. The couplings` provide effective means whereby flexible tubes Il and Il may be connected to the channels 1 and I.

In use, dentifrice is led through the tube I3 8, at the freeA i sary, the tube I3 may be removed from the coupling I I and the tube I4 connected thereto. A now of water through the tube I4 will pass into the channel 1 and effectively flush said channel and the openings 6*, in the event clogging takes place. After flushing, the tube I4 may be removed and Thus, with a.

placed on its proper coupling I2 and the tube I3 replaced on the coupling I I.

It is further desired to call attention to the fact that the partition I0 will efectually prevent mixing of the dentifrice and liquid before dischcarge thereof about the bases of the bristle tufts.

By referring to Figure 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that I have provided a slightly modlfied construction. 'Ihe modification of the invention as disclosed in Figure 3, includes a body I5 having a handle I6 and a head I1. 'I'he body I5 is of identical construction with the body I with the following exception. The dentifrice channel, indicated at I8, is formed with an inlet bore I9 which communicates with a preferably circular, flexible rubber container tube which is formed on or secured to the under side of the handle I6 rearwardly of the head I1. The tube 20 is formed with a threaded neck 2| which receives a screw cap 22. In this embodiment of the invention, there is provided a channel parallel to the channel I8 but isolated therefrom, for supplying liquid to the bases of the bristle tufts. In use, it is only necessary for a user to compress the tube 20 for forcing dentifrice to flow about the bases of the bristle tufts, for a tooth cleaning operation. As will be seen, the channel I8 extends throughout the length of the handle and is formed with a socket 23 to receive a coupling so that the flexible tube from the water supply may be connected with said channel I8 for flushing said channel and removing obstructions therein.

Referring now to the modification of the invention disclosed in Figure 4, the numeral 24 indicates the head of a tooth brush made in accordance with the modified construction. The head 24 includes bristle tufts 25 which are set in funnel-shaped mountings 26. The head 24 is formed with an enlarged socket 21 which removably receives a reduced neck 2l, said neck being formed on the forward end of a handle portion 29. 'I'his construction enables the user to remove the head from the handle when it is desired to clean the head with bristles attached thereto. Also, should it be necessary to replace either the head or th handle, this may be done conveniently. In Figures 5, 6 and '1, I have shown a still further modiiied embodiment of the invention. In these views, the numeral 30 indicates the body of this embodiment of the invention, said body having a handle 3l and a head 32. The head 32 is formed with a plurality of openings 33 which are circular and are threaded. The openings are arranged in the same manner as are the openings 6' and 6h in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawlngs. Said openings 33 are, however, considerably larger in size At 34, I have shown the base of one of my improved bristle tufts, said tufts being shown generally at 36. The tufts 35 are of identical construction so that a description of one will sufiice for all of them. Each of the tufts includes, in addition to lthe base 34,. bristles 36. Also, a discharge pipe 31 is mounted axially of the bristles and extends into communicating relation when one of the openings 33 and one of the passages 30 or which are formed in the body 30 extend longitudinally thereof. The pipe 31 is suitably secured to the base 34, said base having an opening axially thereof to permit flow of liquid into said pipe 31. The base is externally threaded to screw into the threaded opening 33. It will now be understood that, when either water or dentifrice is caused to flow through the passages 33 and 40, said water or dentifrice will pass through the openings in the base 34 and through the pipe 31 for discharge near the ends of the bristles 36. The water or dentifricev will thus flow to the place where it will do the most good. When the bristles 36 become soft, after continued use, it is only necessary to unscrew the bases 34 in the opening 33, when the tufts 35 may be removed and new ones inserted.

Having thus described the invention, what is.

claimed as new isz' 1. A tooth brush including a body having a handle and a head, bristle tufts on the head, said body being provided with a longitudinal partition defining independent liquid and dentifrice receiving channels extending parallel throughout the length thereof and said head having openings communicating between the bases of the bristle tufts and the channels, there being fewer openings communicating with the dentifrice channel than with the liquid channel, means for leading dentifrice to the dentifrice channel for diffusion through adjacent openings to the bristles tufts, and means for conducting liquid through the liquid channel and opening communicating therewith to mingle with the dentifrice about the bristle tufts.

2. In a tooth brush, a body having a handle and a head, said head havingl openings therein. funnel-shaped bristle mountings carried in the openings, tufts of bristles having their bases seated in the mountings, said body being provided with a longitudinal partition defining independent liquid and dentifrice receiving channels extending throughout substantially the entire length thereof and being open at the free end of the handle, there being a plurality of openings forming a source of communication between the bristle mountings and the liquid channel and a fewer number of openings connecting the bristle mountings and said dentifrice channel, couplings carried in the open ends of the channels, means for leading dentifrice through the dentifrice channel and certain of the funnel-shaped bristle mountings to the bases of the bristle tufts, and means for leading liquid through liquid channel and through other of the funnel-shaped bristle mountings to mingle with dentifrice on the bristles.

- 3. In a tooth brush as recited in claim 2, wherein said last mentioned means is connectable with the rst mentioned channel for flushing said rst mentioned channel.

ALFRED F. TABORSKI. 

